8 Benefits of Belonging to AESC

Founded in 1959 to set the standards for the executive search and leadership consulting profession, the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) continues to raise the bar while offering its members exclusive benefits that help them better serve their clients and position themselves as leaders in the marketplace. 

AESC provides our members with the following benefits: 

1. Recognition for a commitment to the highest quality standards.  

AESC membership is synonymous with a commitment to the highest ethical and quality standards in the profession. As an AESC member, you can leverage the AESC brand by proudly displaying the AESC logo and membership certificate. The AESC logo on your website or within a presentation to prospective clients signifies that your firm has undergone rigorous vetting and showcases a commitment to AESC Standards, the highest professional standards worldwide. This “Seal of Excellence” will set you apart from the competition, showing that your firm is the best of the best.   

Members can also leverage AESC’s digital channels to amplify their message and brand, while positioning themselves as thought leaders on pressing subjects. They can contribute to AESC’s client-facing Executive Talent Magazine, which covers critical market trends in executive talent worldwide, or demonstrate their expertise as a panelist at one of AESC’s BlueSteps webinars. AESC also publishes members’ thought leadership articles and research each week. Members who take advantage of the many opportunities AESC has to offer position themselves as experts and trusted advisors. 

2. A community that collaborates for the good of the profession.

When your firm joins AESC, you become a part of something bigger. Through our organization, members network with their peers in a collaborative, non-competitive environment they can’t find anywhere else. This spirit of collegiality and shared learning is unique to AESC and contributes significantly to the professional growth of our members, who engage with peers through various AESC idea exchanges, including forums and webinars and global conferences.  

For instance, AESC Global Conferences allow members to network with fellow executive search and leadership consultants from other firms, providing the opportunity for best practice sharing and insights. These events can also be the destination to connect one member firm’s global team, aligning colleagues on standards and trends.  

Not only can AESC help firms connect with their peers, but the association can also connect firms with clients and candidates.  

Member firms and consultants are featured in the AESC Member Directory used by clients globally. Every member has dedicated space in the directory, a resource cataloging all executive search and leadership consulting firms that meet our rigorous standards and follow our code of conduct.  Each consultant has the opportunity to provide a current profile that highlights areas of expertise and focus.  

Members can also find executive candidates through AESC’s BlueSteps career services, accessible only by AESC member firms.   

3. Access to learning opportunities to continue to grow, develop and stay ahead of the curve. 

AESC members have access to informal and formal learning opportunities, ranging from conferences and webinars to research and professional development. These exclusive resources provide members with a competitive advantage in the marketplace, enabling them to be the first to share insights with their clients, further positioning themselves as trusted advisors and industry leaders.   

AESC Global Conferences  

AESC’s global conferences are signature events that bring together the world’s best executive search and leadership consulting advisors with thought leaders addressing the most pressing issues of the day: global economic shifts, emerging ideas on leadership and talent, the impact of disruptive forces including generative AI, demographic patterns, climate change, DEI and more. Learnings from AESC conference drive business growth, value to clients, and improvements in the practice of executive search and leadership consulting. 

Legislative Updates  

AESC provides the latest updates on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the profession, for example data privacy and pay transparency, through members-only analyses, guidelines, and interactive webinars.   

Research, Reports & Insights  

AESC members have exclusive access to cutting-edge research on strategic growth opportunities for the profession (Global Members Outlook Survey), critical issues facing clients around the world (Global Client Survey) and issues top of mind with BlueSteps members, executives worldwide (Global Candidate Survey).  

AESC also develops in-depth reports on critical topics such as interim management, assessment, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and diversity, equity and inclusion practices around the world.  

Peer-to-Peer Roundtables 

Members can confidentially share best practices through several members-only forums, including AESC Diversity Councils, Leadership Roundtables, Boutique and Independent Firm Forums, Functional Leadership Forums and more.  

Webinars  

AESC holds multiple members-only webinars focused on research, legislative updates, and trending topics such as the state of the profession, artificial intelligence, assessment, diversity, equity and inclusion and much more.   

Formal Education and Certificate Programs  

 Member firms can differentiate themselves in the marketplace with AESC education programs – including an elite MBA-style program through AESC’s partnership with Cornell University, a certificate in executive research, workshops, on-demand learning, and more – all at an exclusive members-only rate.  

4. An opportunity to elevate the profession.  

AESC members elevate the profession in the marketplace through their ethical practices and quality standards. They set an example and position their firm as a leader in the market by engaging with AESC and contributing to setting the standards for the profession, staying ahead of the trends that impact the profession, clients and candidates, and offering executive career services through AESC’s BlueSteps, including candidate coaching, building a personal brand, becoming Board-ready, and more.    

5. Shape quality standards, legislative responses, and best practices. 

Being an AESC Member gives firms and consultants a voice in the evolution of the profession, enabling them to have an impact on its future. Through AESC, members provide insight and shape best practices, advocate for the profession and discuss advancements through governance and strategy, forums, roundtables, global conferences and more.  

Members take part in AESC’s governance, including the Board and Regional Councils and their sub-committees Regional Diversity Councils and functional areas including government and legal relations and technology trends, data security, artificial intelligence and more. Having a seat at such tables ensures a firm contributes to setting the ethical and quality standards for the profession, therefore elevating the profession in the marketplace.  

AESC members are kept up-to-date on critical legislative issues through government and regulatory news briefs, helping members avoid legal risks. Members come together to share advice and monitor policies, spread awareness, and identify new issues as the profession evolves.   

6. Connect with peers, clients, and candidates. 

Members can engage with peers through various AESC idea exchanges, including webinars, forums and global conferences. For instance, AESC Global Conferences allow members to network with fellow executive search and leadership consultants from other firms, providing the opportunity for best practice sharing and insights. These events can also be the destination to connect one member’s global team, aligning colleagues on standards and trends.  

AESC member firms and consultants are featured in the AESC Member Directory used by clients globally. Every member has dedicated space in the directory, a resource cataloging all AESC members – the executive search and leadership consulting firms that meet our rigorous standards and follow our code of ethics.  

Members can also find executive candidates through AESC’s BlueSteps career services, accessible only by AESC member firms–the firms that are committed to the highest quality standards. 

7. Innovate through future-focused research and collaboration. 

AESC members have exclusive access to cutting-edge annual research, led annually by AESC ensuring direct access to insights that will enhance client service, firm growth, and engagement with candidates.  The association conducts annual global research and develops extensive reports focused on strategic growth opportunities for the profession (Global Members Outlook Survey), critical issues facing clients around the world (Global Client Survey) and issues top of mind with BlueSteps members, executives worldwide (Global Candidate Survey). AESC also develops in-depth reports on critical topics such as interim management, assessment, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and diversity, equity and inclusion practices around the world. 

8. Educate through insights, trends, and continuous learning 

AESC is committed to educating its members and provides continuous learning opportunities to enable members to grow, develop and stay ahead of the curve. Not only can AESC members attend future-focused events, but they can participate in formal AESC education at a reduced members-only rate.  

AESC offers programs for those looking to advance their skills at any stage in their career. We provide signature programs, solutions for your organization and on-demand learning focused on a range of topics, including executive search, executive research, leadership consulting, client relationship management, trending topics and much more. Each offering is selected and designed to assist members on their professional development journeys, while providing long-term value for clients and your organization as a whole. 

Are you interested in learning more about AESC membership?

Download the prospective member brochure or submit an inquiry to learn more today.